The Tianjin assembly line is the first of its kind to be built outside Europe.

The Tianjin assembly line is the first of its kind to be built outside Europe. The project cost 600-million U.S. dollars, and Airbus invested 51 percent of the total. Airbus CEO Thomas Enders says China's aviation market will become as important as the United States and Europe over the next 20 years.

China ordered 75 Airbus planes this year -- up from 67 last year. The Tianjin line will be capable of assembling 44 aircraft a year by 2011.

(CCTV October 10, 2008)